Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-03-18
THE BALTIMORE CONFERENCE.

THE BALTIMORE CONFERENCE.
SOME INTER TESTING RECOLLECTION5 OF
OTHER CONFERENCE.-The OLDEST
MEMBER OF BALTIMORE CONFERENCE
| PROCEEDINGS OF THE BoDY-WEs-
LEYAN FEMALE INsTIrUTE-FEW
CHANGES OF APPOINTMENTS IN ROCK
INGHAM DISTRICT.
&C., &C.. &C.
The annual session of the Baltimore
Conference of the M. E. Church South,
commenced in Leesburg, Loudon county,
on Wednesday of last week. 1t is a coin
! cidence that the first Methodist Conference
/ ever held in Virginia assembled in the
same town, May 10Th, 1778. one hundred
and nine years ago. Eighteen, out of the
| twenty nine ministers which composed it,
were present. None of the preachers who
were of English birth were present. the
| fierce storm of the Revolution having
driven them all from the country, save one.
the famous Asbury who then lay conceal
| cd at the house of Judge White prom1-
nent Methodist in Delaware. That con-
ference was presided over by William
Walters the oldest preacher in America.
OLD MEMBERS PRESENT.
| When the conference opened last week the
Secretary, Dr. John S. Martin, the Oldest
Secretary in the United States, took his
place again, for the fifty-second time
The Oldest member Of the conference.
Rev. A. A. Eskrldge, of Stanton, was
| not there, being kept away by age and fee
BILE health. His name heads the list Of the
/ conference roll. He was licensed TO preach
| in Leesbufg in 1880, and preached his first
sermon in the old stone Church in Lees
burg. The same year he was admitted
on trial into the Baltimore Conference
| He was unable to attend Che conference,
| but sent his love to the bishop, the mem
bers of the conference, and to his old
friends in Leesburg, through Presiding
Elder j. Q. Dice. The oldest member of
conference present, was DR.. Nelson Head,
who has completed his fftY-third year in
the ministry, Of which 6fty-two were years
of active service. DR.. j. s. Gardner of
Stanton. who was present, was formerly
stationed in Leesburg. The lay represen-
tatives from Rockingham district present
are G.. w. Hunter, H. 81. Jones, j. 2.
Houck and E. J. Armstrong.
| RECoLLECTIoNs OF AN OLD CONFER
| ENCE.
The rules of the Conference were sus-
pended for a halfhour to listen to the
reading of extracts from the minutes of
Confele nce held in Leesburg in 1872, The
book of proceeding Is IN the possession Of
Dr.. Martin, and is much worn from the
lapse of time The only two bishops then
| of the Church, Asbury and McKendree,
were in attendance On that session. Fifty
seven ministers were members then, none
of whom are now living. Much interest
was manifested in the reading Of these old
minutes.
The conference then Included all of
Maryland, parts Of Pennsylvania and Vir-
ginia, and extended into Ohio. The mem
bership of the church in the Baltimore
Conference was 81 300 white, 1856 colored.
L
| little amusement. Bishop Keener recalled
the impressions of Bishop McKendree
while he was child. He said the Bishop
| glsten ed with neatness. He was dressed
(, in small clothes with bright buttons
Joshua Weller one of the members OF that
conference, was man OF perfect demeanoF
and reverence. He was an excellent
| preacher. Fortunately he married towards
!! the end of his life. Rev. Mr.. Waugh. the
secretary, afterwards was made bishop.
| These men were led by the Spirit, for they
] did not know, whittier they were going.
| They have never been surpassed in their
power of preaching and of prayer. Robert
r. Roberts preached once sermon which
contained the main heads accurately stat
ed, and the sermon made great impression
upon me. The purity Of speech indicated
purity of thought. l am sure we are
gratined in being in this glor lous descent.
Rev. [. W, Canter said that the bodies
of Christopher Frye, Asbury Roszell, and
j. Gilbert Watt were buried within the
corporation limits of Leesburg.
| v, T..
members of that conference. Beverley
Wauqh. r. R. Roberts and Enoch George,
became bishops. He recalled incidents
connected with the lives of other members
:, OF the conference.
sUPERANNUARIES.
The characters of the following super
| animated ministers were examined and
passed: A. A. Eskridge, F. M. Mills.
David Thomas, Thomas Hildebrand,
George Stevenson, Henry Hoffman, F. Il.
Richey, John W. Tongue, j. M. Grandin.
q. Nancy, w. G. Balths, A. Boone, A.
Robey, William Hedges, J. W. Evan, E
L. Kregler, Nelson Head, and W. G..
Malery.
| sUPERNUMERARIES PASSED.
E. F. Heeyeck, l.. 81. Crenshaw, w.
| T. Quinn, j W. Boteler, ]. ]. Engle,
{, James Beatty, A. P. Boude. g. r. Jeffer-
son, 2. s. E. Sixeas, j. N. Hank, A. T..
Martin, j. Y. Spanger and F. A. Mercer
Isaiah Christopher, F. A. Steele, and
D. W. Files were elected to local deacon
orders.
The transfer of Rev G. A. W heat, of
the Western Virginia Conference. to this
| Conference was announced.
REPORTS FROM STANTON, AND ROCK
INGHAM DISTRICT.
of the Rockingham district Rev. J. S
Gardner, OF Staunton, reported improve
ments upon one of the churches; Rev. A.
~ hot